Is Jan 2 the release date for BlackBerry 10?

Industry insiders at the ongoing Gitex Shopper are hinting at the date, while RIM is still mum on the issue

By

Bindu Suresh Rai

PublishedWednesday, October 03, 2012

Head to a telecom retailer at the ongoing Gitex Shopper event at the Dubai World Trade Centre and chances are January 2 will be the date brandished for the launch of the new BlackBerry 10 phone in the market.

When Emirates 24|7 spoke to a few retailers about the launch, one said, on the condition of anonymity: “That is the date which is the being buzzed by our suppliers but until RIM confirms it as such, we are not privy to a final confirmation.

“However, if the BlackBerry 10 models are launching on January 2, 2013, UAE residents would be able to receive the first few handsets within two weeks or so of its release.”

Another retailer at Gitex confirmed the date, saying: “We’ve been told to expect the first few phones by the last week of January. However, the models are likely to hit the grey market sooner if the launch is indeed January 2.”

Even Ahmed, a salesperson at one of the BlackBerry stands, said: “You just wait until January 2 to pick up the best handsets; that is when the BlackBerry 10 will launch, and it will blow away the competition.”

A statement from Canadian makers Research in Motion or RIM wasn’t available at the time, however, the company had earlier confirmed the first model would release Q1 2013.

Vishesh Bhatia, CEO of Jumbo Electronics, said earlier: “RIM has been given a new lease on life with the announcement of the BlackBerry 10.

While we don’t have the official launch date as yet, it is a brand that will continue to be strong in this market.”

The first alleged images of the BlackBerry 10 L-series and N-series were leaked online earlier this week, which include one full touch-screen device, and one with a Qwerty keyboard.

Website CrackBerry pulled the images off a leaked marketing video, which was taken down shortly.

RIM posted a $235 million loss in its fiscal second quarter, earlier in the week.